Phase II headgasket 'program'

C

Carl 1 Lucky Texan

from the dealership:

WWP-99 Service Campaign - Cooling System Conditioner

Subaru has determined that certain 1999 through 2002 model year 2.5L
equipped Subaru vehicles may experience an external coolant leak from
the cylinder head gaskets. This is the result of normal relative thermal
expansion and contraction variations of engine parts. As a precautionary
measure, SOA is recommending that a special conditioner be added to the
engine cooling system to prevent leaks from occurring or to correct
existing leaks.

Only early Phase II 2.5 liter engines are affected by this campaign.
Phase I 2.5 liter engines (some 1999 model year and prior years) are not
affected. Countermeasures applied to the manufacturing process for those
2002 and later VINS not affected by this campaign have eliminated the
need for this campaign to be performed on those vehicles.

In the future, it will be necessary to add Genuine Subaru Cooling System
Conditioner to the SUBARU vehicle cooling system whenever the engine
coolant is replaced. The updated recommended service procedure as well
as intervals for coolant replacement will be added to all applicable
service manuals. As a reminder, we will include an update page in the
owner notification letters that should be added to the Owner’s Manual
and Warranty and Maintenance Booklet. We ask you to keep in mind that
replacement of fluids (including Subaru Cooling System Conditioner)
during inspection and maintenance services are not covered under warranty.

If the vehicle owner has this Service Program repair performed promptly,
Subaru will extend coverage under the Subaru Limited Warranty on the
vehicle for cylinder head gasket external coolant leaks to a period of 8
years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first. Warranty coverage begins
on the date the vehicle was delivered to the first retail purchaser. If
the vehicle was used as a demonstrator or company vehicle before being
sold at retail, warranty coverage begins on the date the vehicle was
first placed in such service. As a further condition for this extended
warranty coverage to apply, the vehicle owner must have Genuine Subaru
Cooling System Conditioner added to the vehicle at any subsequent
cooling system services at the interval specified in the Warranty and
Maintenance Booklet under the heading “Schedule of Inspection and
Maintenance Services”.

Dealers will automatically be sent an initial quantity of Genuine Subaru
Cooling System Conditioner. Dealer bulletins and affected VIN lists will
be mailed to dealers in early February 2004. Owner notification letters
are scheduled for mailing in stages.
 
Their "required" item is illegal for the warranty. Unless they provide the
item, you cannot specify a product for a warranty. That is federal law since
'80's. Hence Subaru cannot say you use our Subaru oil or do not get 60K
powertrain. They can only specify qualifications of the product, e.g.
aluminum radiators need specific abilities of antifreeze. If aftermarket
product fulfills qualifications, you can use it.
I just had pistons (loud cold slapping noise) and timing belt tensioner
(dealer tried that first - got belt replaced for just cost) replaced...
free. Even a loaner for 3 days at 52K. Never went back for dealer to check
anything after buying car. I did everything myself. Also had trans
problem, fixed free and got a free trans fulid change.
The piston problems got me an oil and cooling fluid replacement free.

Special fluid with millons of cars not needing it... defect!
 
M. Butkus said:
I just had pistons (loud cold slapping noise) and timing belt tensioner
(dealer tried that first - got belt replaced for just cost) replaced...
free. Even a loaner for 3 days at 52K. Never went back for dealer to check


How loud does the piston slap have to be to get a replcement? My
replacement
short block is much noisier than the first one, and makes almost a weird
scraping noise
on top of the tapping, on cold starts. The power steering also makes a
whine
when cold that didn't go away after I drained and filled the reservoir
three times
with synthetic ATF. Cold is -18C in this case.
 

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